The small computer has an AllWinner A10 single-core 1.5GHz ARM CPU, a Mali 400 GPU, and 512MB of RAM. An HDMI port on the exterior allows users to plug the computer into a television. It outputs at 1080p and is said to be capable of playing high-definition video.

The device also has a full-sized USB port with host support for input devices, a conventional micro-USB port, a microSD slot, and an internal 802.11 b/g WiFi antenna. The computer can boot from a microSD card and is capable of running Android 4.0 and other ARM-compatible Linux platforms.

Earlier this year, we reported on the FXI Cotton Candy, a thumb drive computer that can plug directly into the HDMI port on a television. The system, which became available for preorder in February, sells for $199.

The $74 AllWinner system seems like an intriguing, low-cost alternative to the Cotton Candy. Both computers have the same GPU, but the Cotton Candy has a faster dual-core processor and twice as much RAM. Another key difference is that the Cotton Candy has an actual HDMI male plug built in (whereas the AllWinner computer has a socket) and consequently doesn’t require the use of an HDMI cable.

Much like the recently launched $35 Raspberry Pi, these relatively small and inexpensive Linux systems offer enthusiasts a compelling platform for embedded computing projects.

I think it would be interesting if this "USB stick" comes with an installer for a VNC-ish client, so that when you put it into the USB slot of your computer, you can use the existing display and keyboard to play with it.

Here comes the future again. The development of the Raspberry Pi and devices like this are going to change the goal posts once again. Get ready to bin your heavy oversized iBricks. (even the smart ones)

This can really change embedded systems. Easy to develop for android with all its built in libraries and functions is really a step up from the ugly embedded world. Heck you can embed these into flatscreen monitors and build all sorts of neat kiosk machines. I'd love one in my car.

I'm interested to know what people do with these tiny machines. Maybe I just don't have enough imagination, but I don't see many use cases out of this. Especially since it has no battery and therefore can't really be embedded into something mobile.

How small is too small for something like this? And how is this thing powered anyway? I can't wait until you can buy a full on game console in this kind of form factor. Play it at home and when you're on the road slot it into your mobile screen/controller/battery setup.

I mean, if Google Play is going to rent and sell videos, this would be a logical next step. I guess my question would be, how do you control Android without a touchscreen?

Android already allows for alternative inputs for trackpads and mice. The Asus Transformer line does with their dock.

It looks interesting, to be sure. I would like a Raspberry Pi, but it would be nice to see if this can run software like XBMC and airplay.

Actually, I just looked more closely and realized the wi-fi support is limited to 802.11g. All of a sudden, this is a pretty worthless media center after all. I suppose you could hang a USB-Ethernet adapter off of it, but now we're spending more and I kind of doubt Android has drivers for it anyway.

802.11ac devices are starting to come out right now! 802.11n is passe. There's no excuse to release an 802.11g device these days. Apple would have been laughed out of town if the Apple TV shipped with 802.11g.

I mean, if Google Play is going to rent and sell videos, this would be a logical next step. I guess my question would be, how do you control Android without a touchscreen?

Android already allows for alternative inputs for trackpads and mice. The Asus Transformer line does with their dock.

It looks interesting, to be sure. I would like a Raspberry Pi, but it would be nice to see if this can run software like XBMC and airplay.

Actually, I just looked more closely and realized the wi-fi support is limited to 802.11g. All of a sudden, this is a pretty worthless media center after all. I suppose you could hang a USB-Ethernet adapter off of it, but now we're spending more and I kind of doubt Android has drivers for it anyway.

802.11ac devices are starting to come out right now! 802.11n is passe. There's no excuse to release an 802.11g device these days. Apple would have been laughed out of town if the Apple TV shipped with 802.11g.

Good luck finding a chip that has the multi-antenna requirement for N/AC, while trying to pack all of that circuitry into something the size of a thumb-drive and selling for under $100